Magnetic display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a frame having an open interior, and at least one elongated support member. The support member spans the open interior of the frame, with its ends fastened to the frame. At least one means for attachment is fixed to a back surface of the frame for attaching the frame to a support surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a display device. Moreparticularly, the present invention pertains to a magnetic displaydevice having a frame with an open interior, at least one elongatedsupport member, and at least one attachment means.

The prior art references disclose many different types of magneticdisplays. Most commonly, individual, variously-sized magnets are placedover papers or photographs to be displayed. Magnetic attractive forceholds the magnets and the display articles against a metallic supportsurface of a home appliance or structure, such as a refrigerator, filecabinet, or locker. Often, one magnet is used to hold more than onearticle. However, the magnetic strength provided by a single magnet isoften insufficient to support a thick sheet of paper, such as a greetingcard. When a magnet's holding power is exceeded, the held articles mayfall to the floor. This may be annoying and may also result in losingthe articles for display.

In addition, the use of multiple magnets to hold many articles, andtheir frequently random placement on the support surface, creates acluttered and unappealing appearance, and fails to provide a means fororganizing the articles. The common practice of stacking articles underone or more magnets also presents the consumer with a difficulty inlocating the desired articles.

Known attempts to overcome the disadvantages inherent in the use ofindividual magnets for holding articles include magnetic frames anddisplay sleeves. An example of such a picture frame may be disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,912,864, issued to Price (the '864 patent). The '864patent is directed to a rectangular magnetized picture frame made offour tubes with magnetic strips adhesively secured to the rear faces ofthe tubes. Alternately, corner connectors joining the tubes are made ofmagnetic materials.

Another such frame may be disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,029, issuedto Dunn (the '029 patent). The '029 patent discloses a metal frame withmagnets inserted into holes cut into each side of the frame. A commonshortcoming found in both of these frames is the necessity for consumersto spend considerable time inserting the article to be displayed intothe frame, or carefully holding the article against the support surfacewhile attempting to center the frame about the article. In addition,both of these frames have specific dimensions, thus can only display alimited array of articles with similar dimensions. Further, extractingan article and replacing it with another requires additional timeadjusting the frame.

Another known magnetic fastener includes magnetic sheet material cutinto picture frame shapes. The exposed side of the magnetic surface maybe coated with colors or designs to increase aesthetic appeal. However,the magnetic sheet material from which the frame shapes are cut isrelatively fragile, leading to easy tearing.

Yet another known display device may be disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,364,126, issued to Enriquez (the '126 patent). The '126 patent isdirected to a magnetic refrigerator organizer featuring overlappingdisplay sleeves. Notes, photographs, business cards and the like may beinserted into the sleeves for organization and display. Similar to theframes disclosed in the '864 and '029 patents, inserting and extractingdisplay articles requires the consumer to spend a considerable amount oftime adjusting the device. Not all articles are visible at all times,which is disadvantageous.

Another known display device may be disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,405,465, issued to Dwyer et al. (the '465 patent). The '465 patent isdirected to a method of displaying at least one article on arefrigerator, including a magnetically mounted display board, a displaypanel attached to the board, and a transparent layer for protectingdisplayed articles. Although display articles are easily attached to thedisplay board, the display board relies on adhesive attachment of thedisplay articles. Over time, the adhesives tend lose their stickiness,requiring frequent reapplication of potentially damaging adhesive to thedisplay articles.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a lightweight display device havingeasily positionable means for holding articles of various size fordisplay. Because the device of the present invention does not limit thesize and shape of articles to be displayed, as prior art display devicesdo, a wide variety of irregular and oversized articles may be displayed.Such a device is easily removable from a support surface, yet remainsfirmly in place until intentionally moved.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A display device includes a frame having an open interior portion, atleast one elongated support member, and a fastener or fastening meansfixed to a back surface of the frame for mounting the frame on a supportsurface. The support member has first and second ends, which arefastened to opposite sides of the frame, and span the open interior ofthe frame. Each of the support member's ends is fastened to the frame,preferably to the back surface of the frame.

Preferably, the frame has three or more sides, but may be in anysuitable shape, such as a square, rectangle, polygon, circle, oval andthe like. The support members may be either horizontally or verticallyoriented, and may be formed from wire (stretched or stiff), string,cord, monofilament, or suitable plastic, wood or metal rod.

In a preferred embodiment, the fastener is magnetic to permit attachmentof the frame to a magnetically attractive support surface. For mountingon non-magnetically attractive support surfaces, the fastener mayinclude, for example, non-magnetic means, such as releasable adhesives,hooks, screws, or any other suitable means. Preferably, the deviceincludes at least one removable clip for holding display articles on thesupport members, positionable over a portion of the support member.

In an alternate embodiment, the display device may include a solidbacking, such paper, plastic, cardboard and the like, that covers theopen interior and a portion of the back surface of the frame. Thebacking may itself be magnetic, or may have at least one magneticattachment means for mounting the frame to the magnetically attractivesupport surface.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention,together with the organization and manner of use thereof, will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencenumerals designate like elements throughout the several views.

While the present invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings, and will be described in detail.It should be understood that the drawings and detailed descriptionthereof are not intended to limit the invention to the particular formdisclosed, but rather the invention is intended to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the display device according to one specificembodiment of the present invention, shown mounted on a refrigerator;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the display device of FIG. 1, showing a clipholding an article for display;

FIG. 6 is a back view of the display device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the clip shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, shown holdingan article for display;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the clip shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, shown holdingan article for display;

FIG. 9 is a back view of the clip shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 10A-10C illustrate specific alternate embodiments of the displaydevice;

FIG. 10D shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention,illustrating vertical orientation of support members;

FIG. 11 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the display deviceof the present invention, shown with a backing covering the openinterior and back surface of the frame; and

FIG. 12 is a back view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the present invention is directed to a displaydevice 10. The device 10 includes a frame 12 having an open interiorportion 14, at least one elongated support member 16 having two ends 18,and at least one fastener strip or attachment means 20. The frame 12 isillustrated as being rectangular, but may be formed in any suitable oraesthetically pleasing shape, such as a square, triangle, circle, oval,any polygon or even an irregular shape. Some of these alternate shapesare shown in FIGS. 10A-10C. Preferably, the frame 12 is made of alightweight material, such as wood, plastic, or aluminum, but anysuitable material may be used.

The support members 16 span the open interior portion 14 of the frame12, preferably at approximately even intervals for aesthetic appeal.Each support member 16 has first and second ends 18, which are fastenedto opposite sides of the frame. Preferably, the ends 18 are fastened toa back surface 26 of the frame 12 so as not to be visible from the frontof the frame. The support members 16 may be fastened by any suitablefastener, for example by screws, nails, staples, pegs, chemicaladhesive, or may be “looped” through appropriate apertures (not shown)in the frame. For frame shapes that incorporate opposing sides, such asrectangles, the ends 18 of the support members 16 may be fastened toopposing sides 28 of the frame 12. If the frame 12 is circular or ovalin shape the support members 16 may form a chord perpendicular to andaxis or diameter of the frame.

Although the illustrated embodiments show four support members 16, agreater or fewer number of support members may be used, depending on theshape and size of the frame 12. In addition, although the supportmembers 16 are shown in FIGS. 1-6 as having a horizontal orientation,the support members 16 may also be vertically oriented, as illustratedin FIG. 10D. The support members 16 may be formed of wire stretched andfastened to the frame, or may be formed of stiff wire, metal rod,plastic rod, wooden rod, monofilament, and the like. Any suitablematerial and corresponding method of fastening may be used withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The fastener strip or attachment means 20 is preferably formed of amagnetic strip of material affixed to the back surface 26 of the frame12. As is known, such magnetic material is typically formed of aflexible material impregnated with magnetic material. The fastener strip20 may be fixed to the back surface 26 of the frame 12 with adhesives,staples, nails, screws, or any other suitable means. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the fastener strip 20 is preferably magnetic, for securing thedisplay device 10 to a magnetically attractive support surface 30 (FIG.1), such as a refrigerator, file cabinet, or locker, or any other metalsurface. Because the interior 14 of the frame 12 is open, the supportsurface 30 may be seen through the frame. Although FIGS. 3, 4, and 6depict the attachment strip 20 as two magnetic strips extending alongthe entire length of opposing sides 28 of the frame 12, other types ofmagnetic fasteners may be employed, such as shorter magnetic strips, orindividual magnets. The attachment strips 20 depicted in FIG. 3 areshown with an exaggerated thickness for purposes of clarity, and are notdrawn to scale. Further, for non-magnetic support surfaces 30, theattachment means 20 may include releasable adhesives, hooks, screws, orany other suitable means of securing the display device 10 to a supportsurface.

In the specific embodiment of FIGS. 5-6, a clip 32 is shown removablypositioned over a portion of the support member 16. As shown in FIGS.7-9, the clip 32 includes front and back pieces 34, 36, each with curvedtop, bottom, right, and left edges 38, 40, 42, 44. The front and backportions 34, 36 are operatively coupled to one another with a post 46inserted along the right and left sides 42, 44 of both pieces 34, 36. Acircular spring 48 surrounds a portion of the post 46 located betweenthe right and left sides 42, 44 of the front and back pieces 34, 36 ofthe clip 32.

In normal operation, the spring 48 maintains the bottom edges 40 of thefront and back pieces 34, 36 of the clip 32 are in a closed state,abutting each other. When the top edges of the clip 32 are squeezedtogether, the bottom edges 40 separate permitting placement of anarticle 50 between the bottom edges. Accordingly, when the top edges 38are released, the bottom edges 40 return to their closed state, nowfirmly grasping the article 50. The clip may releasably retain anyarticle selected by the user, such as paper, photographs, notes,letters, documents, cloth, fabric, or any other suitable item typicallyhaving indicia thereon. Optional teeth 52 may be formed on innersurfaces 54 of the front and back pieces 34, 36 of the clip 32, forincreased grasping security.

An upper portion 56 of the front piece 34 may include a ridged grippingportion 58 overhanging the top edge 38. The gripping portion 58facilitates squeezing the top edges 38 of the front and back pieces 34,36 together.

Substantially U-shaped hooks 60 also may be attached to the back piece36 of the clip 32, as shown in FIGS. 8-9. The hooks 60 may removablysecure the clip 32 to a portion of the support member 16. Although thehooks 60 are depicted as substantially U-shaped, they may be formed inany shape capable of securing the clip 32 to the support member 16. Inaddition to allowing the clip 32 to be removed entirely from the supportmember 16, the hooks permit the clip 32 slide along the support memberto a desired position so that the article 50 may be displayed along thesupport member at any convenient or aesthetically pleasing position. Theease of removing and opening/closing the clip 32 provides consumers witha quick, simple means of switching between articles to be displayed. Anysuitable clip may be used. For example, a spring-biased clothespin maybe used to secure articles.

Use of the display device to display articles is straightforward (seeFIGS. 5-6). An article 50 intended for display is inserted between thefront and back pieces 34, 36 of the clip 32. The clip 32 then ispositioned, via its hooks 60, on the support member 16. The clip 32 maybe slid to a desired position along the support member 16 withoutremoving the clip from the member. Alternately, the article 50 intendedfor display may be inserted between the front and back pieces 34, 36 ofthe one clip 32 while the clip remains positioned, via its hooks 60, onthe support member 16. The user may easily change the articles fordisplay by unclipping one article and re-clipping another it its place.Once clipped, articles 50 are free to overhang any of the sides 28 ofthe frame 12. Because the size of the article 50 displayed is notlimited by the frame 12, a wide variety of articles may be displayedusing the device of the present invention.

In a specific alternate embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-12, the displaydevice 10 includes a solid backing 62, which covers the open interior 14and part or all of the back surface 26 of the frame 12. The backing 62may itself be magnetic, or may be made of stock paper, cardboard,plastic and the like. The backing 62 may be attached to the frame 12using any suitable fastening method, such as for example, screws, nails,staples, hook and loop, and the like. In contrast to the embodimentdisclosed in FIGS. 1-6, the backing in this specific embodiment hidesthe underlying support surface.

While the invention has been described in connection with certainembodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limitthe invention to these particular embodiments. To the contrary, it isintended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalentsfalling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A display device for displaying objects having indicia thereon, thedevice comprising: a frame having an open interior portion; at least onesupport member having first and second ends, said first and second endsfastened to opposite sides of the frame and spanning the open interiorportion; the support member configured to releasably support the objectshaving indicia; and a fastener configured to removably mount the frameon a flat vertically oriented support surface.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein the ends of the at least one support member are fastened to aback surface of the frame.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the objectshaving indicia are selected from the group consisting of a photograph,memo, note, card, paper object, cloth, and fabric.
 4. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the frame is formed in a shape selected from the groupconsisting of a square, rectangle, triangle, circle, oval, and polygon.5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one support member ishorizontally oriented.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at leastone support member is vertically oriented.
 7. The device of claim 1,wherein the at least one support member is selected from the groupconsisting of wire, metal rod, plastic rod, wooden rod, metal bar,string, cord, and monofilament.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein thefastener is a magnetic strip affixed to a back portion of the frame. 9.The device of claim 1, wherein the fastener is in the form of a hooksadapted to receive hanging wire or string.
 10. The device of claim 1,wherein the support surface is formed of metal.
 11. The device of claim1, further including at least one clip for retaining the objects havingindicia on the support member.
 12. A display device for displayingobjects having indicia thereon, the device comprising: a frame having anopen interior portion; at least one elongated support member havingfirst and second ends, said ends fastened to opposite sides of theframe, respectively, and spanning the open interior portion; and amagnetic fastening material affixed to a back surface of the frameconfigured to removeably mount the frame on a corresponding flat metalsupport surface in a vertical orientation.
 13. The device of claim 12,wherein the objects having indicia are selected from the groupconsisting of a photograph, memo, note, card, paper object, cloth, andfabric.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein the frame is formed in ashape selected from the group consisting of a square, rectangle,triangle, circle, oval, and polygon.
 15. The device of claim 12, whereinthe at least one support member is horizontally oriented.
 16. The deviceof claim 12, wherein the at least one support member is verticallyoriented.
 17. The device of claim 12, wherein the at least one supportmember is selected from the group consisting of wire, plastic rod, metalrod, wooden rod, string, cord, and monofilament.
 18. A display devicefor displaying objects having indicia thereon, the device comprising: aframe having an open interior portion; at least one elongated supportmember having first and second ends, said ends fastened to oppositesides of the frame, respectively, and spanning the open interiorportion; attachment means for removeably mounting the frame on acorresponding flat metal support surface in a vertical orientation; andat least one removable clip attached to the support member configured toreleasably retain the objects having indicia thereon.
 19. The device ofclaim 18, wherein the objects having indicia are selected from the groupconsisting of a photograph, memo, card, note, paper object, cloth, andfabric.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the frame is formed in ashape selected from the group consisting of a square, rectangle,triangle, circle, oval, and polygon.